Red Ribbon Days

Kid hopes she plays a "ghost" again

Eight-grader Erin Staengel hopes she gets to dress up like a "ghost" again this month during the busy Red Ribbon Days activities at her middle school in Fenton.

Kids in the TREND chapter at Rockwood South Middle School include a drunk driving emphasis during Red Ribbon Week. Some chapter kids paint their faces a ghostly white color to represent people killed by drunk drivers every day of the year.

That means a new "ghost" will be added every 20 minutes during DDA Day. That's the rate at which Americans are killed by drunk drivers every day of the year.

Fourteen-year-old Erin was a "ghost" last year. She wants to do it again because she wants to try to "stop the violence tied to drunk driving."

"Ghosts" are recruited from classes by another student who dresses as the "grim reaper."

TREND programming at many schools is especially busy during October. But, at Rockwood South, the TREND chapter has events scheduled nearly every month, including over the summer.

For instance, last June, the Rockwood South kids had a 10-member team in a Relay for Life event. That 24-hour walkathon raised money for the American Cancer Society. The Rockwood team raised $568.75 in pledges for their walking.

In July, the chapter held a garage sale at the home of their long-time advisor, Mary Corsair. That raised the money to send 12 chapter members to the annual TREND leadership conference in August.

The 2006-2007 TREND program opened last month with a "doubleheader" event. That included a trip to the Magic House and a party at Cici's Pizza.

The Rockwood South chapter usually has between 40 and 60 members.

Thirteen-year-old Henri Spencer is in her 3rd year with the TREND chapter. She's on the group's advisory council for the 2nd year.

Henri said she was urged by her teachers to join TREND because it would give her a chance to develop her leadership skills. "I want to be in as much stuff as possible because this is my final year," the 8th grader said.

Thirteen-year-old Allison Roehl said she's looking forward to participating in the chapter's Murder Mystery event next January. That's when the chapter members participate in a "mystery theater" program that moves from class to class.

Allison wants to be one of the actors in this year's mystery.

The 8th grader also has been in the TREND chapter for three years and on the advisory council for two. She likes the advisory council work because the group sets the agenda for each year's activities and events.

She said the thing she likes best about TREND is working on the planning committees.

Twelve-year-old Trina Burlison is one of the underclassmen on the advisory council. She's a 7th grader in her second year as a chapter member and 1st on the council.

She said, "The TREND program last year was a good one and we want to top that this year." She said she's looking forward to the chapter's Halloween Happenings event later this month.

She also thinks the Build a Bear event next March will be a winner.

Among other events planned for this school year are two Gym-n-Swim lock-in events, a Canine Carnival in Tilles Park, caroling in December, a Mardi Gras dance and a BBQ weekend event.

The school year program ends with an All-School Carnival next May.

Also, the chapter holds general membership meetings in the school. All students are invited. The theme for the first one will be "What Is Your Anti-Drug?" During the meeting, kids will be asked to tell what activity-or "anti-drug"-they use to keep them from thinking about drugs and alcohol.

In past discussions, one kid said she used reading and another, dancing as "anti-drugs."

TREND is a national program sponsored by the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NCADA). You can learn more about it by calling Ginny Shaller at (314) 962-3456 or visiting the website at www.ncada-stl.org/trend.htm.

The TREND name stands for Turning Resources and Energy in New Directions. It's dedicated to keeping kids drug-, tobacco- and alcohol-free.

The TREND chapters bring that message through recreational activities, educational programs and community service projects.

For kids at Rockwood South Middle School, that turns out to be a year-old effort.